Trivia for Cheaters was a Success!

On Wednesday, April 30, 826CHI’s annual Trivia for Cheaters fundraiser returned to The Den Theatre for another unforgettable night of creativity, competition, and joyful rule-bending—all in support of Chicago’s young writers.

This is not your average trivia night. At Trivia for Cheaters, the smartest team doesn’t always win—but the most strategic just might. Teams built their “cheat banks” throughout the night, purchasing power-ups like Peeks, Exiles, and full-on Nukes to gain the upper hand. It was spirited, fast-paced, and yes—absolutely devious.

But behind the fun and chaos was a deeper purpose: supporting 826CHI’s tuition-free creative writing programs. Thanks to our community’s generosity, we raised critical funds that will allow more than 2,000 students across the city to discover the power of their voices—and publish their stories.

We’re grateful to every guest, donor, and team who showed up ready to play and give back. We’re especially thankful to:

• Our host, the ever-incredible Jill Hopkins, for guiding us through the night with humor and heart
• Game designer and trivia master Theo Hahn, for once again creating a quiz worthy of sabotage
• Our presenting sponsor Storable, and event supporters Jet’s Pizza and Sparkling Ice, for helping make the evening possible
• The brilliant 826CHI volunteers and staff who ran the show behind the scenes
• And our 826CHI Board of Directors, for their ongoing leadership and support
  

To everyone who cheated (for a cause), thank you for believing in student voice. We can’t wait to welcome you back next year—but if you’re missing us already, you won’t have to wait long: join us at our Spring Student Showcase to hear directly from the young authors you helped uplift.